Open organizers agree to use Spidercam on the 18th green in Portrush | The opening

R&A has installed a SpiderCam above the 18th green in Portrush for next week’s open – the first time that technology is used in golf.

The four-point camera system has been suspended above the final hole using four 25-meter high pylons and will be used to offer spectacular aerial views and unique play angles, as well as to capture the last walk of the open champion of the 18th in detail.

The players were informed of the R&A plans on Friday morning. Although the concerns were expressed during the internal discussions beforehand that some players would not be satisfied with the intrusion and the distraction potential caused by a traveling camera during the preparations of a shot, it is understood that there was no complaint.

Spidercam has been deployed by broadcasters in stadium -based sports such as football, rugby and cricket for several years, but logistics and the costs involved have prevented from golf. R&A is paying operational costs of around £ 300,000 for the week at Portrush after a 12 -month planning project undertaken in collaboration with European tour productions, which, in collaboration with IMG Media, is responsible for the production of coverage of open, Ryder Cup and DP World Tour.

The coverage of SpiderCam will be made available to partners of the R&A diffuser, notably Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and NBC in the United States, which are both delighted with innovation. If it is deemed effective, Spidercam could be used in future tournaments where logistics allows, although because of the cost, it is unlikely that it will become a regular characteristic of golf events. Discussions on the question of whether Spidercam can be used at the open Open of next year to Royal Birkdale will take place after the championship.

“It is not often the first is the first to do something, because innovations are generally made by tours before being presented by the majors, so it is really exciting,” said the head of radiudiffusion and the rights of the R&A media, Paul Sutcliffe. “Portrush is one of the few places without club houses on the 18th green, which gave us a unique opportunity.

“With more space around green, we were able to install technology. There will be threads around the green, but the camera will retract on the gallery before the second stroke of each player, so we are convinced that there will be no interference.

“2019 was one of the emblematic openings of Shane Lowry Winner’s emotion in Portrush and Spidercam will allow viewers to walk with the 2025 champion at the top of the 18th. It is the biggest golf walk and should be very special.”

Spidercam will complete the existing technology, including an airplane camera, air drones and Bunker cameras, to improve open open coverage.

Neil Armit, Commercial Director of R&A, said: “We worked closely with European Tour Productions to invest in advanced dissemination technology and we believe that Spidercam will bring millions of fans a new prospect of action with incredible details and accessibility wherever they are in the world.

Richard Bunn, director of content and income at the European Tour Group, said: “European Tour Productions has a vision shared with R&A to use the latest technologies to create a truly immersive experience for millions of fans watching the world’s broadcast. With new innovations such as Spidercam being deployed this year, the 153rd open will bring fans closer to the action that before. “

The open is the longest unique broadcast of golf, with 48 hours of live cover on the air over four days from next Thursday.